A67922:1396
Acts and monuments of matters most special and memorable, happening in the Church. [vol.…Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol.…
Acts and monuments of matters most special and memorable, happening in the Church. [vol. 1] with an universal history of the same, wherein is set forth at large the whole race and course of the Church, from the primitive age to these latter times of ours, with the bloody times, horrible troubles, and great persecutions against the true martyrs of Christ, sought and wrought as well by heathen emperors, as now lately practised by Romish prelates, especially in this realm of England and Scotland. Newly revised and recognised, partly also augmented, and now the fourth time again published and recommended to the studious reader, by the author (through the help of Christ our Lord) John Fox, which desireth thee good reader to help him with thy prayer.Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol. 1] with an vniuersall history of the same, wherein is set forth at large the whole race and course of the Church, from the primitiue age to these latter tymes of ours, with the bloudy times, horrible troubles, and great persecutions agaynst the true martyrs of Christ, sought and wrought as well by heathen emperours, as nowe lately practised by Romish prelates, especially in this realme of England and Scotland. Newly reuised and recognised, partly also augmented, and now the fourth time agayne published and recommended to the studious reader, by the author (through the helpe of Christ our Lord) Iohn Foxe, which desireth thee good reader to helpe him with thy prayer.
London: printed by John Daye, 1583London: printed by Iohn Daye, 1583
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
In the same country of Persia, about this time suffered under Sapores the king (as recordeth Simeon Metasthenes) divers valiant & constant martyrs,1 as Acindymus, Pegasius, Anempodistus, Epidephorus, also Simeon Archbishop of Seleucia, with Ctesiphon an other bishop in Persia, with other ministers & religious men of that region, to the number of 128. Of this Simeon and Ctesiphon thus writeth Zozomenus lib. 2. That the idolatrous Magicians in Persia, taking counsel together against the Christians, accused Simeon & Ctesiphon, to Sapores the king, for that they were grateful & accepted unto the Roman Emperor & bewrayed to him, such things as were done in the land of Persia. Whereupon Sapores being moved, toke great displeasure against the christians, oppressing them with taxes & tributes unto their utter impoverishing, killing also their Priests with the sword: After that calleth for Simeon the Archbishop, who there before the king declared himself a worthy & a valiant captain, of Christs church. For when Sapores had commanded him to be led to suffer torments, he neither shrank for any fear, nor showed any great humble suit of submission for any pardon: whereat the king partly marvelling, partly offended, asked why he did not kneel down, as he was wont before to do. Simeon to this answered, for that saith he, before this time I was not brought unto you in bonds to betray the true God,2 as I am now, so long I refused not to accomplish that which the order & custom of the Realm of me required: but now it is not lawful for me so to do, for now I come to stand in defence of our Religion and true doctrine. When Simeon thus had answered, the king persisting in his purpose, offereth unto him the choice, either to worship with him after his manner (promising to him many great gifts, if he would so do) or if he would not,3 threateneth to him and to all the other christians within his land, destruction. But Simeon neither allured with his promises, nor terrified with his threatenings, continued constant in his doctrine professed, so that neither he could be induced to Idolatrous worship, nor yet to betray the truth of his religion. For the which cause he was committed into hands, and there commanded to be kept to the kings pleasure further known.
In the same countrey of Persia, about this time suffered vnder Sapores the king (as recordeth Symeon Metasthenes) diuers valiant & constant martirs,